Report: Newcastle set to raid Sunderland for 43-year-old

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The Mail claim Newcastle are set to raid Sunderland for Under-23’s head coach Elliott Dickman – despite spending 26 years at the Stadium of Light.

Dickman, 43, was a promising talent at Sunderland but was forced to retire young through injury. He has since been on the Sunderland coaching staff.

Now the Black Cats’ second-string gaffer since 2017, Dickman has been identified as the man to replace Chris Hogg as Under-23’s manager.

Hogg left in the summer to become assistant manager at MK Dons, with Toon icon Steve Harper filling in in the mean time.

It is the first meaningful decision made by the Saudi-led consortium – who are yet to bring in a director of football, or a new manager/

The report also claims that ex-Newcastle gaffer Shefki Kuqi was interviewed for the role – but Dickman has won the race to nab the job.

Dickman to join Newcastle: Consortium begin making moves

While it will not be a first-team manager, or a director of football that the Toon currently crave – it will be refreshing for fans to see youth focus.

The owners clearly care about the future of the club. The fact they have staged interviews for an Under-23 gaffer is proof they want the best.

But they are taking their time with senior appointments and a decision needs to be made before it is too late. Newcastle need a manager.

They need a vision, a way out of the adversity they find themselves in. But Dickman is a promising start, perhaps a sign of movement.